- Home
- A-Z Publications
- Geophysical Prospecting
- Previous Issues
- Volume 53, Issue 4, 2005
Geophysical Prospecting - Volume 53, Issue 4, 2005
Volume 53, Issue 4, 2005
-
-
Acoustic and petrophysical relationships in low‐shale sandstone reservoir rocks
Authors Jalal Khazanehdari and Clive McCannABSTRACTThis paper describes the measurements of the acoustic and petrophysical properties of two suites of low‐shale sandstone samples from North Sea hydrocarbon reservoirs, under simulated reservoir conditions. The acoustic velocities and quality factors of the samples, saturated with different pore fluids (brine, dead oil and kerosene), were measured at a frequency of about 0.8 MHz and over a range of pressures from 5 MPa to 40 MPa.
The compressional‐wave velocity is strongly correlated with the shear‐wave velocity in this suite of rocks. The ratio VP/VS varies significantly with change of both pore‐fluid type and differential pressure, confirming the usefulness of this parameter for seismic monitoring of producing reservoirs.
The results of quality factor measurements were compared with predictions from Biot‐flow and squirt‐flow loss mechanisms. The results suggested that the dominating loss in these samples is due to squirt‐flow of fluid between the pores of various geometries. The contribution of the Biot‐flow loss mechanism to the total loss is negligible. The compressional‐wave quality factor was shown to be inversely correlated with rock permeability, suggesting the possibility of using attenuation as a permeability indicator tool in low‐shale, high‐porosity sandstone reservoirs.
-
-
-
Simple relative space–time scaling of electrical and electromagnetic depth sounding arrays: implications for electrical static shift removal and joint DC‐TEM data inversion with the most‐squares criterion
By Max A. MejuABSTRACTA simple scaling relationship is shown to facilitate comparison, correlation and integration of data recorded using the common experimental configurations in electrical and electromagnetic depth sounding. Applications of the scheme to field data from typical geological and landfill environments show that it is robust and, where transient electromagnetic (TEM) data are available, enables easy identification and quantification of electrical static shift (galvanic distortion) in magnetotelluric and direct current (DC) sounding curves. TEM‐based procedures are suggested for both the direct removal of static shift in DC sounding curves and effective joint data inversion with the most‐squares criterion in the presence of static shift. A case study of aquifer characterization using sounding data from borehole sites in the Vale of York in England shows that static shift is a common problem in this glacial‐covered terrain and demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed joint DC‐TEM inversion strategy in handling distorted soundings.
-
-
-
Ultrasonic velocities of North Sea chalk samples: influence of porosity, fluid content and texture
Authors Birte Røgen, Ida L. Fabricius, Peter Japsen, Christian Høier, Gary Mavko and Jacob M. PedersenABSTRACTWe have studied 56 unfractured chalk samples of the Upper Cretaceous Tor Formation of the Dan, South Arne and Gorm Fields, Danish North Sea. The samples have porosities of between 14% and 45% and calcite content of over 95%. The ultrasonic compressional‐ and shear‐wave velocities (VP and VS) for dry and water‐saturated samples were measured at up to 75 bar confining hydrostatic pressure corresponding to effective stress in the reservoir. The porosity is the main control of the ultrasonic velocities and therefore of the elastic moduli. The elastic moduli are slightly higher for samples from the South Arne Field than from the Dan Field for identical porosities. This difference may be due to textural differences between the chalk at the two locations because we observe that large grains (i.e. filled microfossils and fossil fragments) that occur more frequently in samples from the Dan Field have a porosity‐reducing effect and that samples rich in large grains have a relatively low porosity for a given P‐wave modulus. The clay content in the samples is low and is mainly represented by either kaolinite or smectite; samples with smectite have a lower P‐wave modulus than samples with kaolinite at equal porosity. We find that ultrasonic VP and VS of dry chalk samples can be satisfactorily estimated with Gassmann's relationships from data for water‐saturated samples. A pronounced difference between the VP/VS ratios for dry and water‐saturated chalk samples indicates promising results for seismic amplitude‐versus‐offset analyses.
-
-
-
Piecewise 1D laterally constrained inversion of resistivity data
Authors Esben Auken, Anders V. Christiansen, Bo H. Jacobsen, Nikolaj Foged and Kurt I. SørensenABSTRACTIn a sedimentary environment, layered models are often capable of representing the actual geology more accurately than smooth minimum structure models. Furthermore, interval thicknesses and resistivities are often the parameters to which non‐geophysicist experts can relate and base decisions on when using them in waste site remediation, groundwater modelling and physical planning.
We present a laterally constrained inversion scheme for continuous resistivity data based on a layered earth model (1D). All 1D data sets and models are inverted as one system, producing layered sections with lateral smooth transitions. The models are regularized through laterally equal constraints that tie interface depths and resistivities of adjacent layers. Prior information, e.g. originating from electric logs, migrates through the lateral constraints to the adjacent models, making resolution of equivalences possible to some extent. Information from areas with well‐resolved parameters will migrate through the constraints in a similar way to help resolve the poorly constrained parameters. The estimated model is complemented by a full sensitivity analysis of the model parameters, supporting quantitative evaluation of the inversion result.
Examples from synthetic 2D models show that the model recognition of a sublayered 2D wedge model is improved using the laterally constrained inversion approach when compared with a section of combined 1D models and when compared with a 2D minimum structure inversion. Case histories with data from two different continuous DC systems support the conclusions drawn from the synthetic example.
-
-
-
Parsimonious 3D post‐stack Kirchhoff depth migration
Authors Biaolong Hua and George A. McMechanABSTRACTParsimonious post‐stack migration is extended to three dimensions. By tracing single rays back along each incident wave direction (as determined by a local slant stack at the receivers), the ray tracing can be embedded in the migration. This approach significantly reduces the computer time and disk space needed because it is not necessary to build and save image time maps; 3D migration can be performed on a workstation or personal computer rather than using a supercomputer or cluster.
The location of a reflector in the output image is defined by tracing a zero‐offset ray to the one‐way traveltime (the image condition); the orientation of the reflector is defined as a surface perpendicular to the raypath. The migration impulse response operator is confined to the first Fresnel zone around the estimated reflection point, which is much smaller than the large isochronic surface in traditional Kirchhoff depth migration. Additional efficiency is obtained by applying an amplitude threshold to reduce the amount of data to be migrated. Tests on synthetic data show that the proposed implementation of parsimonious 3D post‐stack Kirchhoff depth migration is at least two orders of magnitude faster than traditional Kirchhoff migration, at the expense of slightly degraded migration image coherence. The proposed migration is expected to be a useful complement to conventional time migrations for fast initial imaging of subsurface structures and for real‐time imaging of near‐offset sections during data acquisition for quality control.
-
-
-
2.5D finite‐difference solution of the acoustic wave equation
Authors Amélia Novais and Lúcio T. SantosABSTRACTThe finite‐difference method applied to the full 3D wave equation is a rather time‐consuming process. However, in the 2.5D case, we can take advantage of the medium symmetry. By taking the Fourier transform with respect to the out‐of‐plane direction (the symmetry axis), the 3D problem can be reduced to a repeated 2D problem. The third dimension is taken into account by a sum over the corresponding wave‐vector component. A criterion for where to end this theoretically infinite sum derives from the stability conditions of the finite‐difference schemes employed. In this way, the computation time of the finite‐difference calculations can be considerably reduced. The quality of the modelling results obtained with this 2.5D finite‐difference scheme is comparable to that obtained using a standard 3D finite‐difference scheme.
-
-
-
Semi‐automatic detection of faults in 3D seismic data
Authors Kristofer M. Tingdahl and Matthijs De RooijABSTRACTThe semi‐automated detection of objects has been quite successful in detecting various types of seismic object, such as chimneys. The same technique can be applied successfully to detect faults in 3D seismic data. We show that several different attributes – among others, similarity, frequency and curvature, all of which potentially enhance the visibility of faults – can be combined successfully by an artificial neural network. This results in a fault ‘probability’ cube in which faults are more continuous and noise is suppressed compared with single‐attribute cubes. It is believed that the fault‐cube can be improved further by applying image‐processing techniques to enhance the fault prediction.
-
-
-
Radiation from flexural vibrations of the baseplate and their effect on the accuracy of traveltime measurements
Authors A. Lebedev and I. BeresnevABSTRACTWe analyse the problem of radiation of seismic waves by a vibroseis source when the baseplate is subject to flexure. A theoretical model is proposed to account for baseplate flexure, generalizing the well‐known model of the vibroseis source of Sallas and Weber, which was developed for a rigid plate. Using the model proposed, we analyse the effect of flexure on the properties of seismic waves. We show that the flexure does not contribute to the far‐field and mainly affects the readings of the reference accelerometer that is used to measure the force applied to the ground; these readings generally become dependent on the location of the sensor on the plate. For muddy and sandy soils, the effect of flexure on baseplate‐acceleration measurements is nonetheless pronounced at the high end of the vibroseis frequency band only (∼100 Hz), and is negligible at all frequencies for stiffer soils. The corresponding phase lags introduced by the flexural vibrations at high frequencies lead to errors in the traveltime measurements (through the cross‐correlation function) of up to 0.6 ms for muddy soils and less for denser soils. We show the existence of an optimal position of the reference sensor on the baseplate and also propose a general method of eliminating the phase lag due to the baseplate flexure in acceleration measurements.
-
-
-
The estimation of shear‐wave statics using in situ measurements in marine near‐surface sediments
Authors Gavin Winsborrow, Dei G. Huws and Everhard MuyzertABSTRACTShear‐wave statics in marine seismic exploration data are routinely too large to be estimated using conventional techniques. Near‐surface unconsolidated sediments are often characterized by low values of Vs and steep velocity gradients. Minor variations in sediment properties at these depths correspond to variations in the shear‐wave velocity and will produce significant static shifts. It is suggested that a significant proportion of the shear‐wave statics solution can be estimated by performing a separate high‐resolution survey to target near‐surface unconsolidated sediments. Love‐wave, shear‐wave refraction and geotechnical measurements were individually used to form high‐resolution near‐surface shear‐wave velocity models to estimate the shear‐wave statics for a designated survey line. Comparisons with predicted statics revealed that shear‐wave statics could not be estimated using a velocity model predicted by substituting geotechnical measurements into empirical relationships. Empirical relationships represent a vast simplification of the factors that control Vs and are therefore not sufficiently sensitive to estimate shear‐wave statics. Refraction measurements are potentially sensitive to short‐wavelength variations in sediment properties when combined with accurate navigational data. Statics estimated from Love‐wave data are less sensitive, and sometimes smoothed in appearance, since interpreted velocity values represent an average both laterally and vertically over the receiver array and the frequency–depth sensitivity range, respectively.
For the survey site, statics estimated from near‐surface irregularities using shear‐wave refraction measurements represent almost half the total statics solution. More often, this proportion will be greater when bedrock relief is less.
-
-
-
3D modelling and sensitivity in DC resistivity using charge density
Authors Olivier Boulanger and Michel ChouteauABSTRACTA three‐dimensional (3D) electrical resistivity modelling code is developed to interpret surface and subsurface data. Based on the integral equation, it calculates the charge density caused by conductivity gradients at each interface of the mesh, allowing the estimation of the potential everywhere without the need to interpolate between nodes. Modelling generates a huge matrix, made up of Green's functions, which is stored by using the method of pyramidal compression. The potential is compared with the analytical and the numerical solutions obtained by finite‐difference codes for two models: the two‐layer case and the vertical contact case. The integral method is more accurate around the source point and at the limits of the domain for the potential calculation using a pole‐pole array. A technique is proposed to calculate the sensitivity (Jacobian) and Hessian matrices in 3D. The sensitivity is based on the derivative with respect to the block conductivity of the potential computed using the integral equation; it is only necessary to compute the electrical field at the source location. A direct extension of this technique allows the determination of the second derivatives. The technique is compared with the analytical solutions and with the calculation of the sensitivity according to the method using the inner product of the current densities calculated at the source and receiver points. Results are very accurate when the Green's function that includes the source image is used. The calculation of the three components of the electric field on the interfaces of the mesh is carried out simultaneously and quickly, using matrix compression.
-
-
-
Analytic expressions for the velocity sensitivity to the elastic moduli for the most general anisotropic media
Authors B. Zhou and S.A. GreenhalghABSTRACTFor non‐linear kinematic inversion of elastic anisotropy parameters and related investigations of the sensitivity of seismic data, the derivatives of the wavespeed (phase velocity and group velocity) with respect to the individual elastic moduli are required. This paper presents two analytic methods, called the eigenvalue and eigenvector methods, to compute the derivatives of the wavespeeds for wave propagation in a general anisotropic medium, which may be defined by up to 21 density‐normalized elastic moduli. The first method employs a simple and compact form of the eigenvalue (phase velocity) and a general form of the group velocity, and directly yields general expressions of the derivatives for the three wave modes (qP, qS1, qS2). The second method applies simple eigenvector solutions of the three wave modes and leads to other general forms of the derivatives. These analytic formulae show that the derivatives are, in general, functions of the 21 elastic moduli as well as the wave propagation direction, and they reflect the sensitivity of the wavespeeds to the individual elastic moduli. Meanwhile, we give results of numerical investigations with some examples for particular simplified forms of anisotropy. They show that the eigenvalue method is suitable for the qP‐, qS1‐ and qS2‐wave computations and mitigates the singularity problem for the two quasi‐shear waves. The eigenvector method is preferable to the eigenvalue method for the group velocity and the derivative of the phase velocity because it involves simpler expressions and independent computations, but for the derivative of the group velocity the derivative of the eigenvector is required. Both methods tackle the singularity problem and are applicable to any degree of seismic anisotropy for all three wave modes.
-
Volumes & issues
-
Volume 72 (2023 - 2024)
-
Volume 71 (2022 - 2023)
-
Volume 70 (2021 - 2022)
-
Volume 69 (2021)
-
Volume 68 (2020)
-
Volume 67 (2019)
-
Volume 66 (2018)
-
Volume 65 (2017)
-
Volume 64 (2015 - 2016)
-
Volume 63 (2015)
-
Volume 62 (2014)
-
Volume 61 (2013)
-
Volume 60 (2012)
-
Volume 59 (2011)
-
Volume 58 (2010)
-
Volume 57 (2009)
-
Volume 56 (2008)
-
Volume 55 (2007)
-
Volume 54 (2006)
-
Volume 53 (2005)
-
Volume 52 (2004)
-
Volume 51 (2003)
-
Volume 50 (2002)
-
Volume 49 (2001)
-
Volume 48 (2000)
-
Volume 47 (1999)
-
Volume 46 (1998)
-
Volume 45 (1997)
-
Volume 44 (1996)
-
Volume 43 (1995)
-
Volume 42 (1994)
-
Volume 41 (1993)
-
Volume 40 (1992)
-
Volume 39 (1991)
-
Volume 38 (1990)
-
Volume 37 (1989)
-
Volume 36 (1988)
-
Volume 35 (1987)
-
Volume 34 (1986)
-
Volume 33 (1985)
-
Volume 32 (1984)
-
Volume 31 (1983)
-
Volume 30 (1982)
-
Volume 29 (1981)
-
Volume 28 (1980)
-
Volume 27 (1979)
-
Volume 26 (1978)
-
Volume 25 (1977)
-
Volume 24 (1976)
-
Volume 23 (1975)
-
Volume 22 (1974)
-
Volume 21 (1973)
-
Volume 20 (1972)
-
Volume 19 (1971)
-
Volume 18 (1970)
-
Volume 17 (1969)
-
Volume 16 (1968)
-
Volume 15 (1967)
-
Volume 14 (1966)
-
Volume 13 (1965)
-
Volume 12 (1964)
-
Volume 11 (1963)
-
Volume 10 (1962)
-
Volume 9 (1961)
-
Volume 8 (1960)
-
Volume 7 (1959)
-
Volume 6 (1958)
-
Volume 5 (1957)
-
Volume 4 (1956)
-
Volume 3 (1955)
-
Volume 2 (1954)
-
Volume 1 (1953)